Alright, so you wanna be one of them fellers snappin’ pictures at the football games, huh? The NFL ones? Well, listen up, ’cause it ain’t just about showin’ up with a camera and pointin’ it at them fellers runnin’ around. It’s a whole heap harder than that.
First off, you gotta learn how to use that fancy camera. Not one of them little phone cameras, no sir! I’m talkin’ about them big ones with all the buttons and gizmos. You probably gotta take some classes, you know, learn about light and all that stuff. Them fellers takin’ pictures ain’t just clickin’ buttons, they know what they’re doin’. They know how to make the pictures look good, even when them football fellers are movin’ fast as lightning.
Then, you gotta get some practice. Start small, maybe take pictures at the high school games. You know, the local teams. That’s how you get good. Gotta learn how to capture the action, the sweat, the whole shebang. It’s like learnin’ to bake a pie; you don’t start with a fancy wedding cake, you start with a simple apple pie. Same thing with takin’ pictures.
- Go to high school games.
- Take lots of pictures.
- Learn from your mistakes.
After you get the hang of it at the small games, you gotta start networkin’. That means talkin’ to people, makin’ friends. You know, like when you go to the market and chat with the vegetable lady. Same idea here. You gotta meet folks who work in the sports world, the photographers, the reporters, the whole bunch. Tell ’em you wanna take pictures for the NFL, show ’em your work. Maybe they can give you a hand, put in a good word for ya. It’s all about who you know, they say.
Now, there’s two ways to get a job takin’ pictures for the NFL, from what I hear. One way is to work directly for them, you know, be on their payroll and all. The other way is to be a freelancer, workin’ for newspapers or magazines, and they send you to the games. Both ways are tough, mind you. Lots of competition. But if you’re good and you know the right people, you got a shot.
And don’t forget about them fancy pictures you need to show off. That’s what they call a “portfolio,” I think. It’s like showin’ off your best pies at the county fair. You gotta have pictures that show you know what you’re doin’, that you can capture the excitement of the game. Pictures of them fellers catchin’ the ball, runnin’, tacklin’, all that good stuff. You might even start a blog, whatever that is, to show your pictures.
Gettin’ paid good money for takin’ pictures sounds nice, but it ain’t easy money. Commercial photographers can make a lot of dough, that’s what they told me down at the store. But you gotta be the best of the best, they say. And NFL photography is up there, real competitive. So you gotta be prepared to work hard, real hard. Lots of long hours, travelin’ all over the place, standin’ out in the cold or the rain.
So, if you’re still itchin’ to be an NFL photographer after hearin’ all this, then go for it! But remember, it ain’t gonna be a walk in the park. It takes hard work, dedication, and a whole lotta luck. But hey, if you got the passion for it, anything’s possible. Just like bakin’ a prize-winnin’ pie; it takes time and effort, but it’s worth it in the end.
Remember, keep learnin’, keep practicin’, and keep knockin’ on doors. That’s the only way to make your dreams come true, whether it’s bakin’ pies or takin’ pictures of football fellers.
Tags: [NFL photographer, sports photography, photography career, how to become, photography jobs, football, NFL, camera skills, networking, portfolio, commercial photography]
